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| Pro-Iran protester |
The first case of
corona virus in Iran was documented on 19th February. Two elderly
men in the city of Qom who were not known to have left the city recently were
diagnosed with the deadly virus and died the same day. Ever since, cases and
casualties have been on the rise. Cases currently stand at 67, 286 while deaths
stand at 4, 003 sources say an Iranian citizen dies of corona virus every 10
minutes. Iran is currently the most affected Muslim country with over 9% of its
government officials infected.
Impact on Iran
On Wednesday, Iran’s
health ministry reported the number of people who had tested positive in the
country had increased by 1,997 to 67, 286, and the death toll had risen by 121
and now stood at 4,003. According to official figures, at least six people die
every hour in Iran from COVID-19. American sanctions on Iran are preventing the
country from purchasing much needed medical supplies required to combat the
pandemic.
Iran is currently the
country with the most number of government officials infected with coronavirus.
As of the month of March, victims included two vice-presidents, three cabinet
officials, 9% of the members of parliament, the director of emergency medical
services, the chief of the crisis-management organization, senior Revolutionary
Guard officers, and prominent clerics are on a long list of officials infected.
A doctor trained at Johns Hopkins University, Ali Akbar Velayati, who served as
the Foreign Minister for sixteen years and is currently a senior adviser to the
Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had to go into quarantine on 12th
March. At least 12 sitting or past Iranian politicians and government officials
had died from the virus as at 17th March 2020.
American Collusion
The American government
is reported to have made offers to provide assistance to the Iranian government
to contain the disease; the Iranian authorities declined the offer.
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| Iran Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei |
The supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khomeini, said in a televised speech on 22nd March, “Several times Americans have offered to help us to fight the pandemic. That is strange because you face shortages in America. Also you are accused of creating this virus. I do not know whether it is true. But when there is such an allegation, can a wise man trust you and accept your help offer? ... You could be giving medicines to Iran that spread the virus or cause it to remain permanently. Our number one enemy is America. It is the most wicked, sinister enemy of Iran ... its leaders are terrorists ... Liars and charlatans. You might send people as doctors and therapists, maybe they would want to come here and see the effect of the poison they have produced in person. You might send people as doctors and therapists, maybe they would want to come here and see the effect of the poison they have produced in person. The Islamic Republic has the capability to overcome any kind of crisis and challenges, including the coronavirus outbreak”.
Last month, the Central
Bank of Iran requested a $5 billion loan from the IMF’s Rapid Financing Initiative,
an emergency programme set up to help countries faced with sudden shocks such
as natural disasters to help fight the pandemic within its borders. On 8th
April, the Iranian government urged the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to
which it is a member to approve the loan. America is standing in opposition to
the loan saying Iran has enough resources to take care of itself.
Complicity of Western
Media
Western and world media
has also shown no sympathy for the people of Iran. An info graphic by the British
publisher, The Guardian, has further shown the disdain for Iran in Western
media in the midst of the ongoing crisis. Australia with a total of 6, 024
cases and 50 deaths, Japan with a total of 4, 257 cases and 81 deaths were both
captured but Iran with 67, 286 cases and 4, 003 deaths did not even get the
slightest recognition. Western media outfits are doing their damnedest not to mention Iran in news bulletins that involve coronavirus. Iran is currently the country with the 7th
highest number of cases and the 6th highest number of deaths with
now more deaths than China.
Why Iran?
The West, head by
America, has tried to bring the Islamic government of Iran to its knees through
economic sanctions and media propaganda for nearly two decades, the country has
continued to grow in influence by leaps and bounds. The west has been trying to
plant its roots deeper in the Middle East in recent years; the presence of Iran
in the region has been an impediment to that goal.
Genesis of the Virus
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| Late Dr. Li Wenliang |
The most prominent early
person to alert the world of coronavirus was a 33 year old Chinese ophthalmologist,
Dr Li Wenliang, through a video chat on 30th December. Four days later, Dr. Li
was summoned to the Public Security Bureau (Police) where he was coerced into
sign a letter in which he was accused of "making false comments" that
had "severely disturbed the social order".
The letter read, "We
solemnly warn you: If you keep being
stubborn, with such impertinence, and continue this illegal activity, you will
be brought to justice - is that understood?" Underneath that in Dr.
Li's handwriting is written: "Yes, I
do."
Dr. Li Wenliang was one
of eight people who police said were being investigated for "spreading rumours".
The corona virus broke
out in Wuhan province of China on 1st December 2019. The disease
spread to other parts of China and neighboring Asian countries. The first case
of COVID-19 outside China was reported in Thailand on 13th January. On
30th January 2020, the world health Organization declared corona
virus a pandemic.
Corona virus has been nicknamed the elite disease because a lot of its
victims have ranged from celebrities to the bourgeois up to government
officials.
Global coronavirus casualty reports currently has documented 1, 504, 971 cases, 87, 983 deaths and 290, 729 recoveries.
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